Qatar expels Iranian officials after fresh missile strikes hit key LNG sites, while Trump signals possible US retaliation if energy infrastructure faces further attacks in the region.
On January 8, amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US, the Kiev-bound Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight PS75 crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran killing 176 people on board.
His comments come days after the US House of Representatives last week passed a resolution limiting President Donald Trump’s power to carry out military action against Iran.
The Tuesday attacks against Ain al-Asad airbase and another installation hosting US and coalition forces in Iraq is said not to be meant for military casualties but signalling Iranian resolve in response to the US killing of Soleimani.
The strikes are said to be in retaliation for a US drone strike that killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis last week.
Netanyahu has described the commander of the Islamic republic’s Quds Force, General Qasem Soleimani as a 'terrorist-in-chief'.
Trump, however, called for harsher sanctions against Iran but made no mention of possible retaliation to Tuesday's missile attacks.
Khamenei added that the 'corrupt presence of the US in the region should come to an end,' saying it has caused 'war, division, and destruction'.
Meanwhile, the Government has directed all Indian carriers to avoid airspace of Iran, Iraq and the Gulf following tension in the region.
State TV said that none of the missiles were intercepted adding that US helicopters and military equipment were 'severely damaged' in the retaliatory attack over the killing of General Qasem Soleimani.
